STATE OF BUSINESS: Full Speed Ahead

For the first time in more than
two years, the U.S. economy is entirely free of wage and price
controls. As President Eisenhower last week struck off the last
controlson machine tools, steel, chemicals and other basic
commodities freedom brought only a few price boosts. There was a
$4-a-ton hike in sulphur and a 4¢-a-lb. hike in coffee.* But, in
general, businessmen showed no desire to gouge each other or the
consumer for that matter. Actually, with production so high in most raw
materials, there was little opportunity.

Even where metals were in short supply e.g., aluminum, producers made no
attempt...